Raised floor air grate adapted multi-vane damper

ABSTRACT

A raised floor air grate panel adapted for a multi-vane damper and linkage assembly is provided. The air grate includes an upper and a lower surface and a support frame. The support frame is connected to the lower surface and includes reinforcement ribs, side walls on opposite sides of the support frame, and at least two downwardly projecting air-flow vanes. The air flow vanes define a generally rectangular air-flow control portion adapted to receive a multi-vane damper and linkage assembly so that the linkage is operable from the upper surface of the floor panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a submission to enter the national stage, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 371, of PCT/US2010/000970, filed 01 Apr. 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the raised floor access panels. In particular, it relates to a raised floor air grate panel adapted for a multi-vane dampler assemble for use in variably restricting air flow.

2. Background Art

Raised floor access panels are load bearing assemblies suspended above a subfloor on pedestal supports which are positioned at each corner portion of the floor panel. The pedestal supports are connected, in a floor supporting matrix, by horizontal stringers. The underside of the panels is reinforced with a support frame which includes reinforcement ribs in order to provide for structural support for the load bearing surface. The panels, themselves, are generally configured to have either a solid or perforated air grate surfaces. The perforations are typically configured as elongate apertures. Solid surface panels are used in a wide variety of applications, and air grate panels are particularly useful in data centers for venting the heat which is generated by electrical components contained in the plenum. The plenum is the space created between an existing subfloor and the underside of the panel. Heat generated from the electrical equipment flows upwardly through the panel perforations in order to dissipate the heat from the plenum. Thus, optimizing the shape and arrangement of the perforations, and the reinforcing ribs is an important consideration in achieving optimum heat dissipation efficiency so that the electrical components, housed in the plenum, do not overheat.

In order to further control heat dissipation, various manufacturers further offer damper assemblies which may be installed in the suppport frame. Such assemblies are adapted to connect to the underside of the panel reinforcing ribs so that one may variably restrict the air volume originating as heat in the plenum and exhaused into the room environment through the panel perforations. On such example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2008/0274685, to DeJonge, et. al. There, an air grate for a raised floor includes a top plate with apertures for air flow, and reinforcement ribs for structural support. Pairs of ribs extend downwardly and include perpendicular edge flanges that define a horizontal track. Two flat flexible dampener panels are provided which temporarily flex in order to slip between the edge flanges for assembly, and then unflex for adjustable movement along the track between different overlapping positions for controlled air flow.

Another feature which has more recently found acceptance in the industry for controlling air flow is the addition of downwardly projecting air flow vanes to the support frame. These vanes operate to control air flow from the plenum through the perforations in the floor panel plate. These vanes are typically designed with a lower curved flange portion which protrudes downwardly below the reinforcement ribs. On such example of a floor panel superstructure which includes, in addition to the reinforcement ribs, the downwardly projecting vanes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Ser. No. D567,398 to Meyer, and is incorporated by reference. As illustrated therein, the vanes project below the reinforcement ribs of the supporting structure.

While the foregoing damper assemble offers some utility in controlling air flow through the air grate panel, a major disadvantage with this damper assembly lies in the fact that it is incapable of use with the downwardly projecting air flow vanes, because they extend below the reinforcement ribs, does not enable a fully unrestricted surface area, and is difficult to operate from the upper surface of the panel which necessitates removing the panel from the pedestal support matrix. Thus, what is needed is a raised floor air grate panel and damper assembly which is adapted for use with the downwardly projecting air flow vanes, is capable of providing a fully unrestricted surface area in use, and has a damper assembly which is operable from the upper surface of the floor panel, when deployed on the pedestal support system, without the need to remove the panel. The present invention satisfies these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a raised floor air grate panel which is adaptable for use with a multi-vane damper assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a raised floor air grate panel and damper assembly for use in combination with downwardly projecting air flow vanes.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a raised floor air grate panel and damper assembly for use in combination with downwardly projecting air flow vanes, but which is capable of providing a fully unrestricted surface area, and a damper linkage which is operable without removing the panel from a pedestal support system.

To overcome the problems associated with the prior art methods, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, briefly a raised floor air grate is provided so that it is adapted to receive a multi-vane damper assembly. The air grate includes an upper and a lower surface and a support frame. The support frame is connected to the lower surface and includes reinforcement ribs, side walls on opposite sides of the support frame, and at least two downwardly projecting air-flow vanes. The air flow vanes define a generally rectangular air-flow control portion adapted to receive a multi-vane damper and linkage assembly so that the linkage is operable from the upper surface of the floor panel.

Additonal advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be obvious from that description or can be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by the system particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of the specification, illustrate at least one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the floor panel and damper assembly.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a corner portion of the preferred embodiment of the floor panel with the damper assembly connected between the vanes.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the floor panel and damper assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the floor panel and damper assembly.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the damper and linkage assembly.

FIG. 6 is an isometric section view of a preferred embodiment of the damper frame, drive plate and damper blade assembly.

FIG. 7 is an isometric sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the damper frame, blades, and drive plate assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMDODIMENT

Unless specifically defined otherwise, all technical or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments as described and illustrated above, it will be appreciated and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as broadly described and claimed herein.

Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like numerals represent like features of the present invention, the present invention provides a raised floor air grate panel adapted to receive a mult-vane damper and linkage assembly. The air grate includes an upper 11 and a lower 12 surface and a support frame 13, 17. The support frame 13, 17 is connected to the lower surface 12 and includes reinforcement ribs 14, side walls 17 on opposite sides of the support frame 13, 17, and at least two downwardly projecting air-flow vanes 15. The air flow vanes 15 define a generally rectangular air-flow control portion and are adapted to communicate with a multi-vane damper and linkage assembly so that the linkage is operable from the upper surface 11 of the floor panel. The multi-vane damper and linkage assembly may be of any type which is well known in the art. In general such assemblies include damper blades, or louvers, pivoting side-to-side in a damper frame between the side walls of the damper frame. The damper blades are typically operated by a linkage. Such linkages typically include a drive rod, a drive plate, and drive links which communicate with the damper blades for simultaneous movement of the blades in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions, from closed to open positions. For example, two such damper and linkage assemblies are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,911 to Lyons et. al., which are incorporated by reference herein, as well as the assembly set forth in the following best mode embodiment.

Now turning to the best mode embodiment, as further contemplated herein, the raised floor air grate panel includes a perforated air flow plate having an upper load bearing surface 11 and a lower surface 12. The floor panel plate is desirably constructed of steel and coated with a thermo-set plastic material, in a predetermined color of texture, and elongate slotted perforations. A support frame 13, 17 is generally a square shaped frame including reinforcement ribs 14 which, taken together, reinforce the load bearing surface when air grate floor panel is supported on a pedestal support stringer matrix system (not shown) to complete the construction of a raised access floor. The support frame 13, 17 is connected to the lower surface 12 by welding, and has side walls 17 on opposite sides of the support 13, 17. The support frame 13, 17 is constructed to that it includes downwardly projecting air-flow vanes 15 in coplanar alignment with the sidewalls 17. The air-flow vanes 15 desirably, but need not, project below a lower major surface of the reinforcement ribs 14, and include curved flange portions for controlling an air flow from the plenum through the air grate and into the room environment. The air-flow vanes 15 generally define a rectangular air flow restricting portion adapted to receive a multi-vane damper 20 between the vanes 15. In this manner, the sidewalls 17 and vanes 15 desirably include a series of drive rod clearance apertures 19 in the side walls 17 and the air-flow vanes 15 which are positioned in longitudinal alignment in a direction which is normal to support frame side walls 17. The drive rod clearance apertures 19 receive a drive rod memeber 41 for operating the multi-vane damper 20 and linkage assembly.

A generally rectangular damper frame is adapted to be mounted in the damper portion. The damper frame has parallel side walls 22, on opposite sides of the damper frame. Each of the damper frame side walls 22 are drilled, or cut, with a number of oppositely aligned, longitudinally space, and centrally located pivot pin retaining holes 21. The spacing and number of holes is, of course, dependent on the dimensions of the damper blades 40, communicating with the frame, so that the blades 40 are simultaneously operable in either an open or closed position. The side walls 22 also include at least two oppositely aligned elongate drive link pin clearance slots 30 for communication with the drive links 42 of the drive linkage assembly.

A drive plate 36 is preferably mounted parallel with, and adjacent to, one side wall 22 of the damper frame. The drive plate 36 is slidably movable along a longitudinal axis with respect to the side wall 22 of the damper frame. In the preferred embodiment, the drive plate 36 is positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the damper frame side wall 22. The drive plate 36 is constructed to include a series of longitudinally spaced elongate clearance slots 33. The clearance slots 33 are centrally located in the drive plate 36, and are in normal alignment with the pivot pin retaining holes 21 of the damper frame side wall 22. At least one drive link pin retaining aperture 35 is drilled, or cut, in alignment with the drive link pin clearance slots 30 in the damper frame side walls. A first 31 and a second series 32 of generally perpendicular regularly spaced elongate drive slots 31, 32 are formed in the drive plate 36 so that the first 31 and second 32 series of drive slots 31, 32 alternate in off-setting alignment above and below the clearance slots 33.

The multi-vane damper assembly includes a series of damper blade members 40 which are mounted in the damper frame. The blade members 40 extend side to side in a direction which is normal to the damper frame side walls 22, and the drive plate 36. The damper blade members 40 are constructed so that they include central pivot pin formations 45 which extend outwardly, along a central pivot axis, at opposite ends thereof, so that the pivot pin formations 45 are pivotally received in the pivot pin retaining holes 21. The blade members 40 are also designed so as to include a drive plate engaging pin formation 46, at one end thereof. The drive plate engaging pin formation 46 is laterally offset from the central pivot axis of the blades 40 for communicating with the elongate drive slots 31, 32 which are formed in the drive plate 36.

In use, the multi-vane dampeer 20 is operated between open and closed positions, when operating the drive linkage assembly from the upper surface 11 of the raised floor, when the panel is deployed on a pedastal support system. The linkage assembly includes a drive rod 41, a drive member 44, which is adapted to operate the drive linkage, and at least one drive link member 42. The drive rod 41 is a rigid bar shaped member, and extends laterally beyond the damper frame side walls 22. The drive rod 41 is received in the clearance apertures 19 aligned in the support frame side walls 17 and air-flow vanes 15. The drive member 44 is constructed with a central aperture which is adapted to receive the drive rod 41, and laterally offset portion for operating the drive member 44. The offset portion is either a lobe, a knurled wheel, or gear (not shown). When the drive member 44 is configured as a lobe, it desirably includes an aperture 45 for receiving the operating end of a tool, such as a screw driver. The drive link member 42 is constructed with a central clearance aperture which is configured to receive the drive rod 41, and a laterally offset drive pin formation 43. The drive link member 42 is slidably adjustable along the length of the drive rod 41 and is adapted to fit snuggly against the rod 41, in use. The drive link members 42 are clampingly connected to the damper frame side walls 22, through the damper frame clearance slots 33. At least one drive link member 42 is also pivotally connected to the drive link pin retaining aperture 35, of the drive plate 36, so that movement of the drive linkage assembly is communicated thereby to the all the mult-vane damper blade members 40. This movement, by the operation of the drive member, causes simultaneous pivotal movement of the blade members 40 betwwen an open and closed position, in the damper frame, to variably restrict air-flow in the damper frame portion, as defined between the vanes 15.

It can be appreciated that the foregoing invention offers flexibility in use with any number of damper assemblies 20 to be fit within the damper portions as defined between the vanes 15. To facilitate this flexibility, the drive linkage is configured so that any number of drive links 42 maybe fit over a single drive rod 41 for communication with one or more damper 20 frame, blade 40 and drive plate 36 assemblies, while the support frame sidewalls 17 and vanes 15 only require the provision for a single series of aligned drive rod clearance apertures 19. This configuration allows for universal use, where an air grate floor panel superstructure may be constructed with a single series of aligned clearance apertures 19 for receiving a single drive rod 41 in order to operate any number of multi-vane damper 20 and linkage assemblies fit within one or more damper control portions as defined by the vanes 15.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments as described and illustrated above, it will be appreciated and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as broadly described and claimed herein. 

1. A raised floor air grate panel, comprising: (a) an air grate with an upper and a lower surface and a support frame connected to the lower surface, said support frame including reinforcement ribs, side walls on opposite sides of the support frame, and at least two downwardly projecting air-flow vanes wherein said air-flow vanes define a generally rectangular air-flow control portion adapted to receive a multi-vane damper and linkage assembly wherein the linkage assembly is operable from the upper surface of the floor panel.
 2. The raised floor air grate panel according to claim 1, wherein the downwardly projecting air-flow vanes are in coplanar alignment with the sidewalls, and said air-flow vanes further include a drive rod clearance aperture positioned in longitudinal alignment normal to said side walls and air-flow vanes for receiving the linkage.
 3. The raised floor air grate panel according to claim 2, wherein the multi-vane damper and linkage assembly further, includes: (a) a generally rectangular damper frame, adapted to be mounted in the damper portion, having parallel side walls on opposite sides of said damper frame, each of said side wall including a plurality of oppositely aligned, longitudinally spaced, and centrally located pivot pin retaining holes, and at least two oppositely aligned elongate drive link pin clearance slots; (b) a drive plate, adjacent to at least one side wall of the damper frame, said drive plate capable of sliding travel along a longitudinal axis with respect to said side wall of said damper frame, said drive plate further including a plurality of longitudinally spaced elongate clearance slots, said slots positioned so that the slots are centrally located in said plate in normal alignment with the pivot pin retaining holes of said at least one side wall, at least one drive link pin retaining aperture in normal alignment with said drive link pin clearance slots in the damper frame side walls, and a first and second series of generally perpendicular regularly spaced elongate drive slots formed in said drive plate so that the first and second series alternate in an off setting alignment above and below the clearance slots; (c) a plurality of damper blade members mounted in said damper frame and extending side to side in a direction which is normal to the damper frame side walls and the drive plate, said damper blade members having a plurality of central pivot pin formations adapted to extend outwardly along a central pivot axis at the opposite ends thereof so that the pivot pin formations are pivotally received in said pivot pin retaining holes, and drive plate engaging pin formation at one end thereof is formed so that the pin formation is laterally offset from the central pivot axis for communicating with the elongate drive slots formed in the drive plate; and (d) a drive linkage assembly including a drive rod, a drive member adapted to operate the drive linkage, and at least one drive link member, said drive rod extending laterally beyond the damper frame side walls and received in the clearance apertures in the support frame side walls and air-flow vanes, said drive lever having a central aperture adapted to receive the drive rod and a laterally offset portion for operating the drive lever, said drive link member having a central clearance aperture adapted to receive the drive rod and a laterally offset drive pin formation, said drive link member clampingly connected to the damper frame side walls through the damper frame clearance slots and pivotally connected to the drive link pin retaining aperture of the drive plate whereby movement of said drive linkage assembly being communicated thereby to the all the said blade members causing simultaneous pivotal movement of said blade members between an open and closed position in the damper frame.
 4. A raised floor air grate panel, comprising an air grate having an upper and a lower surface, a support frame connected to the lower surface, said support frame including side walls on opposite sides of said support frame and a plurality of downwardly projecting air-flow vanes in coplanar alignment with the sidewalls, said air-flow vanes defining a generally rectangular damper portion, said support frame sidewalls and air-flow vanes including drive rod clearance apertures positioned in longitudinal alignment normal to said side walls and air-flow vanes.
 5. The raised floor access panel according to claim 4, further comprising: (a) a generally rectangular damper frame, adapted to be mounted in the damper portion, having parallel side walls on opposite sides of said damper frame, each said side wall including a plurality of oppositely aligned, longitudinally space, and centrally located pivot pin retaining holes, and at least two oppositely aligned elongate drive link pin clearance slots; (b) a drive plate, mounted adjacent to at least one side wall of the damper frame, being slidably movable along a longitudinal axis with respect to said side wall of said damper frame, said drive plate including a plurality of longitudinally spaced elongate clearance slots centrally located in said plate in normal alignment with the pivot pin retaining holes of said at least one side wall, at least one drive link pin retaining aperture in normal alignment with said drive link pin clearance slots in the damper frame side walls, and a first and second series of generally perpendicular regularly spaced elongate drive slots formed in said drive plate so that the first and second series alternate in off setting alignment above and below the clearance slots; (c) a plurality of damper blade members mounted in said damper frame extending side to side in a direction normal to the damper frame side walls and the drive plate, said damper blade members having central pivot pin formations extending outwardly along a central pivot axis at opposite ends thereof so that the pivot pin formations are pivotally received in said pivot pin retaining holes, and a drive plate engaging pin formation at one end thereof formed so that the pin formation is laterally offset from the central pivot axis for communicating with the elongate drive slots formed in the drive plate; and (d) a drive linkage assembly including a drive rod, a drive member adapted to operate the drive linkage, and at least one drive link member, said drive rod extending laterally beyond the damper frame side walls and received in the clearance apertures in the support frame side walls and air-flow vanes, said drive lever having a central aperture adapted to receive the drive rod and a laterally offset portion for operating the drive lever, said drive link member having a central clearance aperture adapted to receive the drive rod and a laterally offset drive pin formation, said drive link member clampingly connected to the damper frame side walls through the damper frame clearance slots and movement of said drive linkage assembly being communicated thereby to the all the said blade members causing simultaneous pivotal movement of said blade members between an open and closed position in the damper frame.
 6. The raised floor access panel according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of frame support members connected to the damper frame and extending side to side normal to the sidewalls.
 7. The raised floor access panel according to claim 5, wherein the drive link member is a lobe having an off set clearance slot for receiving a tool.
 8. The raised floor access panel according to claim 5, wherein the drive link member is a wheel or gear.
 9. In combination with a raised floor access panel including an air grate having an upper and a lower surface, a support frame connected to the lower surface, said support frame including side walls on opposite sides of said support frame and a plurality of downwardly projecting air-flow vanes in coplanar alignment with the sidewalls, said air-flow vanes defining a generally rectangular multi-vane damper portion, said support frame sidewalls and air-flow vanes including drive rod clearance apertures positioned in longitudinal alignment normal to said side walls and air-flow vanes, a multi-vane damper assembly and linkage therefore, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular damper frame, adapted to be mounted in the multi-vane damper portion, having parallel side walls on opposite sides of said damper frame, each said side wall including a plurality of oppositely aligned, longitudinally spaced, and centrally located pivot pin retaining holes, and at least two oppositely aligned elongate drive link pin clearance slots; (b) a drive plate, mounted adjacent to at least one side wall of the damper frame, being slidably movable along a longitudinal axis with respect to said side wall of said damper frame, said drive plate including a plurality of longitudinally space elongate clearance slots centrally located in said plate in normal alignment with the pivot pin retaining holds of said at least one side wall, at least one drive link pin retaining aperture in normal alignment with said drive link pin clearance slots in the damper frame side walls, and a first and second series of generally perpendicular regularly spaced elongate drive slots formed in said drive plate so that the first and second series alternate in off setting alignment above and below the clearance slots; (c) a plurality of damper blade members mounted in said damper frame extending side to side in a direction normal to the damper frame side walls and the drive plate, said damper blade members having central pivot pin formations extending outwardly along a central pivot axis at opposite ends thereof so that the pivot pin formations are pivotally received in said pivot pin retaining holes, and a drive plate engaging pin formation at one end thereof formed so that the pin formation is laterally offset from the central pivot axis for communicating with the elongate drive slots formed in the drive plate; and (d) a drive linkage assembly including a drive rod, a drive member adapted to operate the drive linkage, and at least one drive link member, said drive rod extending laterally beyond the damper frame side walls and received in the clearance apertures in the support frame side walls and air-flow vanes, said drive lever having a central aperture adapted to receive the drive rod and a laterally offset portion for operating the drive lever, said drive link member having a central clearance aperture adapted to receive the drive rod and laterally offset drive pin formation, said drive link member clampingly connected to the damper frame side walls through the damper frame clearance slots and pivotally connected to the drive link pin retaining aperture of the drive plate whereby movement of said drive linkage assembly being communicated thereby to the all the said blade members causing simultaneous pivotal movement of said blade members between an open and closed position in the damper frame.
 10. The raised floor access panel according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of frame support members connected to the damper frame and extending side to side normal to the sidewalls.
 11. The raised floor access panel according to claim 9, wherein the drive link member is a lobe having an off set clearance slot for receiving a tool.
 12. The raised floor access panel according to claim 9, wherein the drive link member is a wheel or gear. 